Explorers Day Nursery

Explorers Day Nursery Adanac Drive, Adanac Park, Nursling, Southampton, SO16 0AS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 October 2015 6 April 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 Staff give very high attention to promoting children's personal development, behaviour and welfare. Older children show extremely positive behaviour, cooperation and respect for others.  Children's dietary needs are exceptionally well met. Children tuck into delicious home- cooked meals at midday in the homely atmosphere. This promotes their understanding of making healthy choices.  A highly exciting and stimulating environment, with an excellent range of play resources and quality equipment, successfully meets children's learning needs.  The passionate management team has high aspirations and continually looks at ways to improve the setting. For example, currently there is strong attention to devising its own staff training programme.  The staff forge excellent communicative links with parents who receive a wealth of information in many different formats. For example, staff offer parents tips and

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This provision is good

guidance on common childhood issues and how to carry on children's learning at home.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 During some planned activities and children's spontaneous play, staff do not always make the most of opportunities to challenge and extend children's learning according to their individual abilities. This means the quality of teaching is not consistently high.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 strengthen the quality of teaching across the team in all age groups, to ensure it is consistently of very high quality and highly responsive to children's individual needs.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children's play activities indoors and outside, and looked at the available resources.  The inspector held a meeting with the nominated person and manager about their leadership and management, including how they evaluate staff's practice.  The inspector had a discussion with a small sample of parents, looked at online parent testimonials and took account of their views.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector sampled and read relevant documentation.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The competent management team ensures staff successfully meet the legal requirements and the nursery protocols. Safeguarding is effective. Rigorous systems are in place for the recruitment, vetting and supervision of staff to ensure their suitability. Overall, there is a spirit of continuous, reflective practice and drive towards improvement. For example, a new on-site pre-school is being built to give more children a quality experience, with more space and greater learning opportunities. Through monitoring, management and staff have a clear picture of their strengths and most areas for development. There are good links with other professionals and providers.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

All children make good progress in their development. Toddlers happily explore a wide range of sensory materials, such as cereals or mashed potato, which promotes their small physical skills. The staff fully understand their role as early years practitioners and support children effectively, interacting skilfully and purposefully with them, for example, by talking to them and using the new vocabulary they want children to learn. Babies are offered kind, sympathetic support and plenty of cuddles to help them feel settled and happy. Staff sing nursery rhymes to babies, for example, to promote their attention, listening and communication skills. The staff successfully engage the children in free play outdoors, such as in the 'mud kitchen' when children pretend to make cakes. Overall, staff plan a wide range of activities that help children develop key skills for the future. For example, children learn to count, solve problems and recognise numerals in their daily

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Older children, in particular, feel extremely welcomed, settled and happy because of the high emphasis to promote their well-being. Key people have strong skills to help children feel very confident and emotionally secure, especially when they move onto another room. Baby room staff go to great lengths to settle new babies. For example, they share children's family photograph books to promote their strong sense of belonging, and take them outdoors in a pushchair for fresh air and change of scene. Staff regularly check sleeping babies and closely follow their home routines to promote their physical well- being. Children learn very good self-help skills and personal independence during play and routines. There are excellent opportunities for children to play outdoors in all weathers.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their starting points. Each key person observes children, assesses and monitors their needs and plans for their future progress well. This helps prepare them for their future learning, including starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY418428 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 822660 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 58 Number of children on roll 81 Name of provider Sunrise (Little Shipmates) Ltd. Date of previous inspection 6 April 2011 Telephone number 07977433398

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Setting details

Explorers Day Nursery is one of five provisions run by Little Shipmates Ltd. The nursery registered in 2010. It operates from a purpose built, single-storey building within the grounds of Adanac Park in Southampton. It is open from 8am to 6pm each weekday for 50 weeks of the year. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 25 members of staff, including the managers, who work with the children. Of these, 23 hold appropriate early years qualifications. Two members of staff hold Early Years Professional Status.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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